If you were online many years ago, before the internet first became a household word, maybe you can remember how jumbled and chaotic all those early webpages were. Everybody wanted to put everything they possibly could on their sites. It was like a giant collage of content, and the net surfer didn’t know where to aim the mouse first!

Now, we’re in the era commonly known as “web 2.0.” This is the age of eBay, blogs, social networking, wikis and instant messaging. The web has changed, and web design has changed along with it.

Web 2.0 design is the new and improved version of the internet. Gone are the endless, long scrolling screens, or the sites with tiny texts and bland colors. Web 2.0 design is simpler and bolder. As a webmaster, you should be hip to these changes to improve your internet marketing. To that end, here are a few of the best web design sites where you can hone up on web 2.0 design ideas.

Web design is one of the more mystifying parts of starting your own website. Unless you are a “design person,” you may not know much about what looks good or bad, and what works and doesn’t work. This site is simple and straightforward, and has lots of easy explanations with screen shot examples.

The site is in a simple blog format. Along the left sidebar there are topics like “basics,” “design process” and “site architecture.” It not only discusses basic design principles (i.e. which designs work best), but that actual nuts and bolts of doing your own design in HTML or CSS. Everything is thoroughly covered, and the site walks you through each process step-by-step. The site also has a variety of tutorials that make it even easier.

Web Design From Scratch is a great general overview of the steps you need to take. It also shows you all the different options you have to choose from.

This site is colorful and easy to navigate. It has screenshots showing you exactly what to do, and simple tutorials that any idiot could use. With Photoshop Lab you can tackle some of the more complicated graphics programs that might now be intimidating.

The site has tips for using different programs, the latest news and reviews in the web design world, and a handy list of links to other sites with tutorials and tips. You can also search the site for specific information.

Photoshop Lab is a more topic-oriented site, so it’s most useful when you’re looking for some specific information about your design.

Template World: [http://www.templateworld.com]

Here’s a site that you can really use. This site offers you templates that you can use for your sites. This takes some of the headache out of having to design your site pixel for pixel.

Along the sidebar they list different categories. If, for example, you have a pet-oriented website, you can click on the “animals” category, and it shows you the most popular templates.

Template World has a huge variety of great ready-made website designs, but there’s one catch – it’s not free. You have to become a member, and membership runs about $50 for a half-year. But, that’s still cheaper than hiring a designer to make it for you.

We really shouldn’t be complaining about how tough it is; designing a website has never been easier than it is today. You can do it all by yourself with any one of these handy Web 2.0 design websites – they’re the best.

When you are setting up your website, you want to get the best service for your money. By choosing the best web designers, in keeping with your brand and company statements, you are investing in the future of your company. The importance of a fresh, professionally designed and user-friendly website cannot be emphasised enough. If your website is looking dated, is not working properly or is difficult to navigate, it creates a very poor impression about your company and brand. Choosing the best web designers you can afford therefore makes excellent business sense.

How do you go about finding the best web designers? The answer is a little more complicated than just looking in the yellow pages. You are going to need to do a little research first – a website, done properly; costs a bit to set up and you need to ensure that the capital outlay will pay off in the long run. The best type way to find a web designer is through word of mouth referrals from people who have actually been clients of the said company. It is no good to get a recommendation from a friend of the designer because they would naturally be biased. Presumably, a client of the company would have no such bias.

Your next option is to look through advertisements and telephone directories or on the net. The advertisement is your first screening – do any ads stand out more than the others? Are some much more innovative? Hopefully by now you will have settled on a couple of possibilities.

Take this handful of names and Google the company names. Check for any comments on the web about the company. Check each company’s website. What is your first impression of the company based on the website? Presumably they pull out all the stops on their own website so consider this – is this the website of one of the best web designers? Is the website user-friendly and easy to navigate? Are all the links working? Do the animations work correctly? (Bear in mind that the capabilities of your computer influence this as well.) How long did the site take to load? Does the site look like any other site or does is show innovation and creativity? Do you detect a lot of typos? (This is a pretty bad sign as it shows inattention to detail and if they don’t put the work into their page, are they really going to put it into yours?) They should also have, or be willing to give, some of the addresses of websites that they have designed.

Finding the best web designers is going to take some effort on your part but the effort is well worth the reward. Be sure that you get the best you can in order to avoid problems later.

It is imperative that to obtain traffic to your website you must have the best web designs. A small business web site design which has a low web design cost and is effective should be your target.

Visitors to your website do not want to see loads of technical or sales jargon trying to offer fantastic deals when buying their particular product.

One should always bear in mind that a website should cater for the needs of the visitor rather than bombarding the visitor with a host of products to buy.

Thought should be given to the type of visitor you hope to attract to your website and the information which they are seeking. A happy visitor who has confidence in your website will most likely make a purchase from it in due course.

A sales oriented web site will put people off. They will not return.

A cool web design providing your visitors with the right type of information is essential.

What should your website contain?

Always say who you are, preferably with a little history.

A photo is an another item that helps.

The website should clearly state what is its purpose. An audio or a video presentation is even better.

Always bear in mind that it is the visitor who is most important; therefore think what the visitor is looking for.

Always give clear and concise answers to what you believe will be the topics they want information on.

Point out the advantages of your website without over selling.

Itemise the salient features of your website and what special benefits it has to offer.

Remember no hard selling; just itemise the special features of your website and you will have a happy visitor who will use your website to hopefully make a purchase.

If you are recommending a product it is best to purchase the product first, so that your recommendation is based on fact.

Highlight the main advantages of the product, but also mention any slight drawbacks. Visitors like a genuine review.

The web site graphic design should be clear and uncluttered. The web design cost should also be realistic.

Too many banners and links tend to be very off putting.

A good headline with all important data should be placed in a position to catch the visitor’s eye.

A trial offer, either free or at a very low cost can be beneficial. It is also imperative that once a purchase has been made that the customer is given a 100% guarantee for a full refund if the product does not come up to expectations.